Effective Mentoring: It’s both a science and an art!

Saundra Y. McGuire, Ph.D.Assistant Vice Chancellor for Learning and TeachingProfessor, Department of ChemistryPast Director, Center for Academic SuccessLouisiana State University

2004 National College Learning Center AssociationFrank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award

The Center for Academic Success

Reflection Questions

Think of someone who is/was a good mentor to you. What were the qualities/actions/attitudes that made them a good mentor?

What’s one thing you know now about college that you wish you had known when you started?

The Story of Four Students

Miriam, freshman calculus student 37.5, 83, 93

Robert, freshman chemistry student 42, 100, 100, 100 Dana, freshman physics student

80, 54, 91, 97, 90 (final exam) Terrence, junior Bio Engineering student GPA 1.67 cum, 3.54 (F 03), 3.8 (S 04)

2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring

White House Oval Office November 16, 2007

Saundra Y. McGuire

Desired outcomes

We will understand the importanceof structured mentoring

We will understand the role of metacognition in mentoring

We will become more effective mentors

Our protégés will excel with the assistance of good mentoring

Overview

Definition of mentoring Role of metacognition in mentoring Learning and Time Management

Strategies That Work Q & A & Discussion

What is Your Role as a Mentor?

To actively promote academic and personal growth in your protégé by sharing knowledge and insights that the two of you have gained over the years.

Note that you don’t have to have all of the answers -- just knowledge of strategies and resources.

What is the question?

How can I be the most effective mentor to this particular protégé?

Understanding Your Protégé What are the characteristics of my

protégé? Learning style* Personality style* Modality preference* Cerebral Hemisphericity* Career interests

What are the protégé’s expectations of the mentoring experience?

What is the protégé’s cultural background?

*www.cas.lsu.edu

Reflection Question

What’s the difference, if any, between studying and learning? Which is more enjoyable?

Why don’t students know how to learn or how to study?

It wasn’t necessary in high school

- 63% of 2010 entering first year students spent less than six hours per week doing homework in 12th grade. - More than 48% of these students said they graduated from high school with an “A” average.*

- Students’ confidence level is high 71.2 % believe their academic ability is above average or in the highest 10 percent among people their age

*2010 Higher Education Research Institute Study

Helping Your Protégé Learn More

Active learning is more lasting than passive learning

Thinking about thinking is important Metacognition

The level at which learning occurs is important Bloom’s Taxonomy

What learning strategies can you teach and/or model?

Metacognition

Organization and Time Management

Finding Additional Resources

Metacognition

The ability to: think about thinking plan and evaluate one’s learning monitor and control one’s mental

processing (e.g. “Am I understanding this material?”)

accurately judge one’s level of learning

Evaluation

Synthesis

Analysis

Application

Comprehension

Knowledge

Making decisions and supporting views; requires

understanding of values.

Combining information to form a unique product; requires creativity and

originality.

Using information to solve problems; transferring abstract or theoretical

ideas to practical situations. Identifying

connections and relationships and how

they apply.Restating in

your own words;

paraphrasing, summarizing, translating.

Memorizing verbatim information. Being able to remember, but not

necessarily fully understanding the

material.

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Louisiana State University Center for Academic Success B-31 Coates Hall 225-578-2872 www.cas.lsu.edu

Identifying components; determining

arrangement, logic, and semantics.

Gra

du

ate

S

chool

Un

derg

rad

uat

eH

igh

Sch

ool

This pyramid depicts the different levels of thinking we use when learning. Notice how each level builds on the foundation that

precedes it. It is required that we learn the lower levels before we can effectively use the skills above.

Counting Vowels in 30 seconds

How accurate are you?

18

Dollar BillDiceTricycleFour-leaf CloverHandSix-PackSeven-UpOctopus

Cat LivesBowling PinsFootball TeamDozen EggsUnlucky FridayValentine’s DayQuarter Hour

How many words or phrases do you remember?

1 2 3 4 5

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. 2 or less2. 3 – 53. 6 – 84. 9 – 125. 13 or more

5

Knowledge of Metacognition Can Greatly Increase

Student Success

Some are less likely to have been cognitively challenged before

Some are less likely to have been encouraged to “stick with it”

Some are more likely to suffer from “stereotype threat”

Most will experience the impact of a “paradigm shift”

Time Management Tools

Weekly planner

Summer calendar

“To do” lists

Cell phone timer

Others?

The Art of Mentoring

What’s the difference between an art and a science?

What makes mentoring an art?

The Art of Mentoring

What’s the difference between an art and a science?

What makes mentoring an art?

Mentors Can Span the Gamut

from Magical to Monstrous!

Protégés Can Cover the Spectrum

from Perfect to Problematic!

More magical mentor behaviors

Assist in plotting a career path

Let protégé make own decisions

Maintain integrity of the relationship between the protégé and the natural supervisor

Murray, Margo & Owen, Mara A. (1991). Beyond the Myths of Mentoring. San Francisco: Josey-Bass Publishers

Characteristics of Monstrous Mentors

Controlling and Manipulative Self – Centered Legend in their own mind Lack respect for protégé’s intelligence and ability Use personal information to

undermine protégé Take credit for protégé’s work Unwilling to remain on professional level

What Mentors Should Know

Your protégé’ is not you Listen > talk How to brainstorm solutions with protégé How to communicate high expectations How to help protégé deal with setbacks When to call in others

Characteristics of Perfect Protégés

• Interested in Receiving Advice

• Receptive to Constructive Criticism

• Responsive to Coaching

• Spend time preparing for mentoring session

• Unafraid of asking probing questions

Characteristics of Problematic Protégés

Regularly miss appointments Fail to heed advice Refuse to take responsibility Generally unenthusiastic and negative Rarely, if ever, express appreciation Don’t give credit to mentor for his/her

contribution

The Role of Confidence in Learning and Performance

Students are more likely to attempt activities at which they feel confident they can be successful.

Mentors can give students the confidence to try, and the strategies to succeed!

"If you think you can...or if you think you can't...you're right!“ Henry Ford

The Connection Between Emotions, Motivation, and Learning

Positive emotions lead to increased motivation, which leads to increased learning, which leads to increased success, which results in positive emotions.

Increased learning

Increased success

Positive emotions

Increased motivation

Help Your Protégé (and YOURSELF!) have a great time this summer!

It’s as easy as A, B, C

Attitude

“It’s your attitude, not your aptitude,

that determines your altitude.”

Zig Ziglar

Behavior

It’s the difference between knowing and doing that determines success.

Anonymous

Commitment

It’s not over ‘til it’s over, and only you or the protégé

can determine when it’s over!

Final Note

Please visit the CAS website at www.cas.lsu.edu, and feel free to contact me at smcgui1@lsu.edu. I wish you an enjoyable and productive summer experience!

Saundra McGuire

References

Aronson, J., Fried, C.B., & Good, C. (2002). Reducing the Effects of Stereotype Threat on African American College Students by Shaping Theories of Intelligence. Retrieved August 5, 2007 from http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/~jsteele/files/04082317412924405.pdf

Bruer, John T. , 2000. Schools For Thought: A Science of Learning in the Classroom. MIT Press.

Bransford, J.D., Brown, A.L., Cocking, R.R. (Eds.), 2000. How people learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Halpern, D.F and Hakel, M.D. (Eds.), 2002. Applying the Science of Learning to University Teaching and Beyond. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Nilson, Linda, 2004. Teaching at It’s Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Company.

References Continued

Murray, M. and Owen, M. (1991). Beyond the Myths of Mentoring. San Francisco, CA: Josey-Bass.

Peddy, S. (2001). The Art of Mentoring: Lead, Follow, and Get Out of the Way. Houston, TX: Bullion Books.

Peirce, W. (2003). Metacognition: Study Strategies, Monitoring, and Motivation. Retrieved August 4, 2007 from

http://academic.pg.cc.md.us/~wpeirce/MCCCTR/metacognition.htm

Zull, James (2004). The Art of Changing the Brain. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.